Smeigh’s last dispatch? Retirement after 29 years

PrePARED FOR Retirement: Larry Smeigh has retired as director of emergency management for Perry County after 29 years on the job. (Sarah Kramer photo)

Walking into the 911 center, it isn’t hard to feel a kinship among the employees.

A glass wall separates the dispatch center from a man who has presided over the emergency center for 29 years.

There, Larry Smeigh sits, and it’s obvious he’s a Philadelphia fan. There’s a Phillies mug placed at the front of his desk, and on his head, a white Eagles hat.

“People don’t know me without my hat,” Smeigh said.

Now the time has come for the friendly, Philly-loving emergency management coordinator to retire.

“It’s ironic that the day I’ll retire (Jan. 1) will be the anniversary of my 29th year here,” he said.

Smeigh started at the emergency center in 1983 after working in Harrisburg at TRW for 10 years, and for four years at Perry Automotive.

Over the years, Smeigh has made various changes to the emergency center and 911 system.

In 1990, he spearheaded a project to create a 911 center after he saw that Perry County had seven emergency lines. “If you were in Blain, you had a Blain emergency number to call,” he said.

Smeigh takes pride in having created a 911 center that was affordable within the county budget in the general fund.

Under his management, a new dispatch system was installed, which is completely computer aided, with prompts dispatchers ask all callers. There’s also mapping, and the system records all police and phone transmissions.

Instead of one dispatcher on duty, Smeigh made the provision to keep two in the center at all times.

The money for the new system, installed two years ago, was paid for by wireless funding from the state under Act 78. Smeigh said the county charged $1.50 for each land line in Perry County, which was about 24,000.

Changes came with the development of cell phones, and the state amended the act, where the state collects the money and counties apply for a portion of wireless funding.

“Without wireless funding, we wouldn’t be able to have this new system,” said Smeigh, noting the $3.5 million price tag. “Now all we have to do is maintain it.”

Wireless funding money also is used for the system’s upkeep.

Smeigh has installed many programs, including a task force that aids the county in inclement weather emergencies. “We could go to PEMA to ask for help, but if it’s really an emergency, we can go to the task force and they can supply resources to us immediately.”

Though Smeigh has never been one to sit around, he is considering a part-time job, such as mowing grass, something he’s always liked to do.

He also owns a workshop, where he muscles up street rods and takes them to car shows. Smeigh said he’s been to Ocean City, Md., Dollywood, Tenn., Carlisle and Gettysburg showing off his street rods and classic cars.

One thing is for sure though, he will be spending a lot of time with his family. His wife Sue, owns the County Seat restaurant in New Bloomfield, and he joked, “I’m not working there.”

Daughters Lindsey and Heather sometimes help their mother at the restaurant, and sons Tom and Jason are still local, as well as six grandchildren.

“It’s always a big deal at Christmas,” Smeigh said, noting his large family.

Most of all, he’ll miss the people he’s worked with for years.

His replacement, Tom Bell of Landisburg, has been training with Smeigh for the past six weeks.

“He’s been very gracious ... I’m really excited to begin,” said Bell.

Smeigh has enjoyed two retirement parties — one thrown by his emergency center family and another hosted by the county for all retirees this year.